Painting Market Harborough yellow for charity

An air ambulance charity is looking to recruit volunteers in Harborough to help paint the town yellow later this month.

Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance is launching a new fundraising campaign as part of National Air Ambulance Week 2015.

The charity is planning to distribute thousands of its yellow cross badges in exchange for donations on Saturday, September 26, and is looking for volunteer collectors to donate an hour or two of their time to help.

The appeal for volunteers in Harborough was launched by local smallholder Richard Clutterbuck, from Great Bowden, at the charity’s shop in the town.

Richard was rescued by the air ambulance five years ago after suffering severe spinal injuries when he was knocked off his horse by a car.

He was joined at the launch by air ambulance director Chris Dainty, of Tur Langton, and shop volunteer Gill Stevenson.

Richard said: “The air ambulance flies an average of three life-saving missions a day over Leicestershire, Rutland and Derbyshire. It gets no government funding and relies entirely on public support to keep flying.

“I know from personal experience the difference the service makes to individuals and their families.

“The charity urgently needs to recruit more volunteers for its collection day on September 26, and I would urge anyone who can spare an hour or two to put their name down at the shop, give the charity a call on 08454 130 999 or visit The Air Ambulance Service website.”